Ford+Bergner LLP

For families and individuals across Texas, navigating the complexities of estate planning, probate, and guardianship can be among the most sensitive and significant legal challenges they will encounter. Ensuring your legacy is protected, your loved ones are cared for, and your wishes are honored requires the guidance of experienced, empathetic, and highly skilled legal professionals. In the heart of Dallas, Ford+Bergner LLP has established itself as a premier boutique law firm, dedicated to providing sophisticated and personalized legal solutions in these crucial areas. This article aims to offer a clear, engaging, and informative overview of Ford+Bergner LLP, highlighting their extensive expertise, accessibility, and the compassionate support they offer to the local Texas community.

Issues related to estates, trusts, and guardianships touch virtually every family at some point. For some, these matters involve proactive planning for the future, while for others, they arise during difficult times such as the death or incapacity of a loved one. Occasionally, these situations can even escalate into contentious disputes among family members. In every instance, Ford+Bergner LLP makes it their business to anticipate client needs and proactively develop effective, often innovative remedies. When litigation becomes necessary, their goal is to represent clients aggressively, ensuring their interests are protected and their voices heard.

The attorneys at Ford+Bergner LLP understand that clients often reach out during emotionally challenging periods. Their approach is designed to listen first, counsel continuously, and equip clients with the knowledge and insights needed to make the best decisions for their well-being today and their security tomorrow.

While this article provides detailed insights based on publicly available information and compelling client testimonials, it is always recommended for prospective clients to engage in direct communication. An initial consultation allows for a personalized discussion of your unique circumstances, helping you determine if the firm's philosophy and services align perfectly with your specific legal needs and goals. This crucial step ensures a comfortable and confident attorney-client relationship.

Ford+Bergner LLP is strategically located in a prominent and easily accessible part of downtown Dallas, offering exceptional convenience for clients throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and the broader Texas region. Their office is situated at 901 Main St 33rd floor, Dallas, TX 75202, USA. This central and prestigious address places the firm in close proximity to major courthouses and other vital legal and governmental institutions in Dallas County, which is particularly beneficial for probate and guardianship matters.

Being in the heart of downtown Dallas means the firm is well-served by Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) light rail and bus services, providing convenient public transportation options for clients who prefer not to drive. For those traveling by car, numerous parking garages and lots are typically available within a short walking distance of the building. This ease of access ensures that individuals and families from various parts of Texas can comfortably reach the firm for consultations, meetings, and to discuss the progress of their cases. The firm's presence in a significant urban hub like Dallas further solidifies its capacity to handle complex cases that often arise in a bustling commercial and legal environment, making it a highly convenient base for serving clients from across the state. Ford+Bergner LLP also maintains offices in Houston and Austin, further enhancing their reach and accessibility for Texans statewide.

Ford+Bergner LLP specializes exclusively in estate law, which encompasses a wide range of services related to planning for the future, managing assets, and handling legal matters after a loved one's passing or incapacitation. Their dedicated focus allows them to provide sophisticated and nuanced legal counsel in these areas. Their core services include:

• Estate Planning: Assisting clients in drafting comprehensive estate plans that reflect their wishes for asset distribution, wealth preservation, and family protection. This includes wills, various types of trusts, powers of attorney, and advanced healthcare directives.
• Wills and Trusts: Drafting legally sound wills to outline asset distribution and appoint guardians for minors. Establishing trusts (such as living trusts, special needs trusts, or testamentary trusts) to manage assets, avoid probate, and minimize taxes.
• Probate and Estate Administration: Guiding executors and administrators through the legal process of validating a will, settling a deceased person's estate, and distributing assets to beneficiaries efficiently and in compliance with Texas law. This also includes ancillary probate for property owned in other states.
• Guardianship: Representing individuals and families in establishing or challenging guardianships for incapacitated adults or minors, ensuring the well-being and protection of vulnerable individuals.
• Estate, Trust, and Guardianship Litigation: Aggressively representing clients in contentious disputes that arise in these areas, such as will contests, challenges to trusts, disputes over asset distribution among beneficiaries, and guardianship disputes.
• Fiduciary Services: Providing legal advice and representation to fiduciaries (executors, trustees, guardians) regarding their duties and responsibilities.
• Asset Protection Strategies: Developing strategies to protect assets from creditors, lawsuits, or excessive taxation.
• Business Succession Planning: Assisting business owners in planning for the transfer of their business interests, ensuring a smooth transition and continuity.
• Elder Law: Offering personalized elder law services, including guidance on long-term care planning, Medicaid eligibility, and special needs trusts, to ensure estate plans reflect the unique needs of older adults.
• Appeals: Handling appeals in estate, trust, and guardianship cases, representing clients in higher courts.
• Mediation: Don D. Ford III is a certified mediator specializing in probate and guardianship cases, offering an alternative to litigation for resolving disputes efficiently.

Ford+Bergner LLP distinguishes itself through several significant features and professional highlights, reflecting their deep expertise, long-standing reputation, and client-centric approach, making them a highly suitable choice for Texans:

• Specialized Boutique Firm: They are a boutique firm exclusively specializing in estate law, including estate planning, probate, guardianships, and associated litigation. This focus means a deep level of expertise in these specific, often complex, areas.
• Board Certified Expertise: Don D. Ford III, a key attorney at the firm, achieved Board Certification in Estate Planning & Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 2010. This is a highly coveted distinction held by less than 3% of all Texas attorneys, signifying exceptional competence and experience in the field.
• Extensive Experience: The firm has been serving Texas families for over 25 years. Don D. Ford III has been board-certified since 2010 and has over a decade of experience as a mediator.
• Proven Track Record: Ford+Bergner LLP has served approximately 6,300 clients and has written estate plans for over 1,600 families, with estates worth as much as $200 million. They have provided services in 112 of Texas' 254 counties and won cases at the Texas Supreme Court.
• Highly Praised by Clients: Testimonials consistently highlight the exceptional service. Clients describe attorneys like Don Ford as having "in-depth knowledge," being "proficient in critical and creative thinking," and possessing a "big heart and a calm confidence." Another client noted Don's responsiveness: "From start to finish Don Ford was always available - always." The entire staff is praised as "exceptional."
• Compassionate and Responsive Team: Clients appreciate the "utmost respect and compassion" and the friendly, professional, and responsive nature of Don and his staff. They are lauded for helping clients "solve their legal issues without breaking the bank."
• Strategic and Tailored Solutions: The firm strives to offer practical, tailored solutions to every situation, anticipating client needs and proactively developing innovative and effective remedies.
• Emphasis on Clarity and Knowledge: Attorneys help clients decide what and how to plan for the future, explaining everything to their satisfaction, which helps families "feel comfortable" with their prepared wills.
• Mediator Certification: Don D. Ford III's mediator certification, obtained from the world-renowned Straus Institute, makes him one of only a few lawyers in Texas specializing in mediating probate and guardianship cases, offering clients a valuable alternative to litigation.

As a highly specialized and experienced law firm focusing on complex areas like estate planning, probate, and guardianship, Ford+Bergner LLP does not publicly advertise specific promotions or special offers. Their fee structures are typically determined on a case-by-case basis, considering the unique complexities of each family's situation, the scope of work involved, and the specific legal solutions required.

However, like many reputable firms, Ford+Bergner LLP offers consultations. Prospective clients are strongly encouraged to contact their office directly to discuss their specific legal needs. During an initial consultation, you can gain a clear understanding of their approach, receive preliminary advice tailored to your situation, and learn about the firm's fee arrangements. This direct communication is the most reliable way to obtain transparent information regarding the financial aspects of engaging their services, allowing you to make an informed decision for your family's future.

For Texans seeking expert legal assistance in estate planning, probate, or guardianship matters, Ford+Bergner LLP can be reached using the following contact details:

Address: 901 Main St 33rd floor, Dallas, TX 75202, USA

Phone: (214) 389-0887

Mobile Phone: +1 214-389-0887

It is recommended to call during standard business hours to schedule an appointment or to inquire further about their specialized legal services.

For families and individuals across Texas, especially those in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex who are navigating the intricate landscape of estate planning, probate, or guardianship, Ford+Bergner LLP stands out as an exceptionally suitable and highly recommended legal partner. Their convenient location on the 33rd floor of a prominent building on Main Street in downtown Dallas ensures excellent accessibility, making it easy for clients from various parts of Texas to reach their office for vital consultations and proceedings.

What truly makes Ford+Bergner LLP ideal for Texans is their unparalleled specialization and the deep expertise embodied by their team, particularly by Board Certified attorney Don D. Ford III. With over 25 years of serving Texas families, coupled with Don Ford's rare Board Certification in Estate Planning & Probate Law, clients can trust that they are receiving advice from attorneys at the pinnacle of their field. Client testimonials consistently praise the firm's "in-depth knowledge," compassionate approach, and responsiveness, highlighting how the team makes clients feel comfortable and confident, even during highly emotional situations. Their proven track record in handling complex estate and guardianship litigation, coupled with the availability of mediation services, offers a comprehensive and flexible approach to resolving disputes. For Texans looking for a dedicated, knowledgeable, and genuinely caring legal team to safeguard their family's legacy and navigate complex estate matters, Ford+Bergner LLP is an outstanding and trustworthy choice.